Just bought my first California & graduated from T6 Forum to here. Hello!

[FairyCakes230]

Hello everyone, we joined the VW clan a year ago with a brilliant T6 Caravelle, and upgraded last month to a T6.1 California Ocean. We were spurred into action by the impending end of the manufacturing run, and while we didn't buy a new one, I did manage to find a nice 4Motion with a diff lock.
The T6 forum was a godsend for fixing little issues with the Caravelle so it was a no brainer to join here. Looking forward to reading good stories and seeing beautiful pics of vans.
Things I want to do in the not too distant future, on top of finally staying overnight in the van, are:

• Get off road wheels and gnarly tyres (although my wheel man says OEM wheels are the best way to go, but aftermarkets look so coooool...)
• Get the underbody rustproofed for the salty Northumbrian winters;
• Probably get the engine and gearbox remapped - HR Autos in Durham did an amazing job with the Caravelle so I'll be heading there to give Bonsly a bit more potency and a buttery smooth DSG.

I've ordered some silly stuff like a detailing gazebo because it's always too wet or too hot to clean or wax the van, a jack and axle stands so if I'm brave I can get the wheels off to wash them properly, I already had my very special Jackyards front seat covers for the Caravelle but I've ordered a new one for the 2 seat bench in the Ocean. The best thing is there's now a seat on the dash for Bonsly (we're a bit mad on Pokémon.)
Recommendations if anyone needs them in the North East:

• Swift Motor Engineering in Newcastle - epic specialist VAG garage, can't recommend them highly enough;
• HR Autos in Durham for Pendle remap and lots of 4x4 knowledge;
• Sounds Alarming in Newcastle for dashcam, tracker, roofracks, towbars;
• The Wheel Specialist in Newcastle for wheels and tyres;
• Braithwaites in Penrith for specialist California sales / purchase and servicing;
• North Shore Customs in Stanley for conversion type stuff (super professional);
• A-Plan / Howden for insurance.

I'm a bit of a late-middle age hippy so I'll be after recommendations for eco friendly bits and bobs (for my 2.5 tonne 199bhp diesel van.) Couple of pictures attached. Thanks for having me/us!
James and Bonsly

 

[KevH]

Welcome to the club.
Nice looking van

 

[Perfectos]

James & Bonsley

 

[Loz2286]

You'll love the Ocean.

 

[kurienp]

"... Graduated from the T6 forum?" Don't let the guys on there hear this ....

Welcome ... And enjoy your Cali!

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[flying banana]

You take the wheels off to wash them? You are indeed mad.

 

[CamperFam]

Congrats and welcome to the family. Any questions on the wheels and swamper setup, give this thread a check: https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/mid-life-crisis-cali-swamper.46565/page-50

 

[FairyCakes230]

Welcome to the club.
Nice looking van

Thanks!

 

[FairyCakes230]

Congrats and welcome to the family. Any questions on the wheels and swamper setup, give this thread a check: https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/mid-life-crisis-cali-swamper.46565/page-50

That’s really helpful thank you!